Lech Poznán

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About Lech Poznán

Lech Poznań is a Polish football (soccer) club based in Poznań, Poland. The club is named after Lech, Czech and Rus, the legendary founder of Polish nation.

The club was established in 1922 as Lutnia Dębiec, later changing its name several times. From 1933 until 1994, the club was closely linked to Polskie Koleje Państwowe. As a result, its popular nickname is Kolejorz, which means The Railwayman in local slang. The club's debut in the Polish top division took place in the year 1948. The brightest era of Lech were the early 1980s and early 1990s. Lech has won the Polish league a total of six times, most recently in 2010. Lech is the most popular football club in the Greater Poland region.

Europe

- UEFA Europa League:- - Round of 32 (2): 2009, 2011

UEFA participation

As of 16 December 2010, Lech Poznań had played a total of 62 games in European competition during the years 1978–2010. Among the most memorable games in the club's history were the clashes against FC Barcelona in the 1988–89 season of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup second round. After both matches ended with 1–1 draw, Lech Poznań lost the penalty shoot-out with 4–5. Barcelona eventually went on to win the tournament.

During the 1983–84 European Cup season, Lech earned a 2–0 win at home against Spanish champions Athletic Bilbao. During the 1990–91 season, Lech eliminated the Greek champions Panathinaikos F.C. in the first round, with a 5–1 score on aggregate. In the next tie Lech was knocked out by Olympique de Marseille but won the first leg 3–2 at home.

During the 2008–09 UEFA Cup season, Lech made it to the group stage of the competition after knocking out higher seeded teams of Grasshopper-Club Zürich (notching its greatest margin of victory with a 6–0 win at home) and FK Austria Wien (scoring the decisive goal in the last minute of extra-time). In the group stage, Lech finished third-placed ahead of AS Nancy and Feyenoord to secure a place in the Third Round, where it was knocked out by the Italian side Udinese Calcio.

Their home ground Stadion Miejski (Poznań) has been totally rebuilt and completed in September 2010 for UEFA Euro 2012, during which it is expected to host 3 games in Group C.

Kolejorz wrote another glorious chapter in club's history during its 2010–11 UEFA Europa League campaign. After being knocked out by AC Sparta Prague during UEFA Champions League qualification, they made it to the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. This time the Polish underdog had to face the big names: Juventus F.C. and Manchester City F.C.. In Turin a hat-trick by Artjoms Rudnevs earned them a surprising 3–3 draw. After defeating the English side at home 3–1, Lech made it to the top of the group. The game against Juventus was played in very bad, snowy conditions and ended in a 1–1 draw. This was enough to put Lech Poznań in to the knockout phase of the Europa League.

Players out on loan

Coaching staff

Notable players

- Teodor Anioła - striker, the best all-time scorer in club's history with 141 goals in the First league (1948–1957).- Jarosław Araszkiewicz - midfielder/striker, won all five championship titles with Lech Poznań. Finished his career in the age of 38.- Jacek Bąk - defender, played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup, former player of French clubs Olympique Lyonnais and Racing Club de Lens.- Jarosław Bako – the goalkeeper of Poland national football team in early 1990s- Hieronim Barczak - defender, 367 league appearances for Lech.- Edmund Białas - striker, along with Anioła and Henryk Czapczyk, created an offensive trio called A-B-C, which was very successful in the 1950s.- Bartosz Bosacki - defender, played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup scoring two goals against Costa Rica national football team. Played also in Bundesliga for 1. FC Nuremberg.- Jerzy Brzęczek - midfielder, silver medalist with Poland in the 1992 Summer Olympics, former Polish national team captain.- Henryk Czapczyk- Jacek Dembiński - striker, played in German Bundesliga with Hamburger SV, currently plays for Lech.- Roman Jakóbczak - midfielder, Polish national team member in the 1974 FIFA World Cup.- Andrzej Juskowiak - striker, silver medalist with Poland in the 1992 Summer Olympics, former player of Sporting Clube de Portugal, Olympiacos F.C., Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfL Wolfsburg.- Mirosław Justek - defender, Polish national team member in the 1978 FIFA World Cup.- Waldemar Kryger - defender, former player of German club VfL Wolfsburg.- Janusz Kupcewicz - midfielder, bronze medalist in the 1982 FIFA World Cup- Robert Lewandowski - striker, currently playing for Borussia Dortmund.- Henryk Miłoszewicz- Piotr Mowlik- Mirosław Okoński - striker, one of the club's icons, especially loved by the fans, after winning with Lech two consecutive championships in 1983 and 1984, transferred to Hamburger SV, played also for Greek side AEK Athens FC.- Bogusław Pachelski- Krzysztof Pawlak - defender, played in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.- Jerzy Podbrożny - played also in Major League Soccer.- Arkadiusz Radomski - began his career with an episode for Lech, then moved to Dutch side SC Heerenveen, now plays for N.E.C. Nijmegen. Made his appearance in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.- Piotr Reiss - striker, played also for Hertha BSC Berlin and MSV Duisburg.- Piotr Świerczewski - midfielder, silver medalist with Poland in the 1992 Summer Olympics, played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, former Sporting Club de Bastia, AS Saint-Étienne and Olympique de Marseille player.- Mirosław Trzeciak - striker, played in Spanish clubs CA Osasuna and Polideportivo Ejido.- Maciej Żurawski- striker, played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup, after playing for Lech, transferred to Wisła Kraków, after that to Celtic F.C, and that to. AC Omonoia. Currently he is a Free Agent.- Jimmy Conrad - defender, USA national team member in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Fans

Lech Poznań is considered to have the strongest fan support in Poland due to club's highest average attendance in Ekstraklasa and the atmosphere during the games.

Relations with local rival Warta Poznań are neutral as the clubs have almost always played in different leagues.

The Poznan

The fans' goal celebration—involving the turning of their backs to the pitch, joining arms and jumping up and down in unison—originated in 1961. In Poland (and to many fans across Europe), it is not called "The Poznan" it is known as a "Grecque" and is performed by many sets of fans.